THE Weymouth & District League season opened with 11 matches across the three divisions.

A new-look Budmouth C team travelled to Shipton Gorge A and fought hard for a 19-19 draw.

Budmouth’s Tom Lydford was the star on the night in taking all nine points including nail-biting 3-2 wins over both experienced campaigners Brian Cammell and Miranda Edwardes.

Robin Prince also secured the full quota for Budmouth. Edwardes and partner Terry Whitworth bagged the draw with a 3-0 victory in the closing doubles.

Last season’s runners-up, Park District, were beaten by a much-improved Budmouth B 24-13.

Will Jolliffe did not drop a leg in his singles matches all night but the match of the night was Jamie Blair against Ray Cody with Cody pushing the youngster all the way.

Cody was 5-0 up in the final leg but Blair played some superb table tennis to come back and clinch it 11-9.

With Ethan Gear chipping in with a good win over the very steady Richard Wilshere and a scintillating doubles win by Blair and Jolliffe, Budmouth claimed a promising victory.

The two promoted teams produced another close finish. Preston started strongly racing to a 12-3 lead after the opening five games with experienced Derrick Smith again leading the way.

However, Springfield dug deep to reverse their poor start taking the last five singles 12-4 to set up an exciting finish with the doubles still to play.

With Josh Harman and Derrick Stopforth losing the first leg 11-3, all was tied at 16-16, however, keen to extend their unbeaten doubles record from last season they came back strongly finally overcoming Paul Arnold and Gary Ayles 3-1 to win the match 19-16.

The other Budmouth team in the division got off to a winning start with a 24-16 victory over Colliton X.

Both Moses Lewis and Brad Burroughs claimed all nine points with last-minute replacement James Green also contributing five. Andy Crouch top scored for the Dorchester team with five points also.

Division Two’s opening game saw All Saints’ now established team of youngsters secure maximum points in a 30-6 win over Preston C.

Hector Knight got them off to a great start with a tight 3-2 win over Dave Clegg. That was a close as it got though with Preston only picking up another four legs in the remaining nine matches.

Shipton Gorge B made the trip to Weymouth to play Pilgrims A and returned with a 22-12 victory – however, it was Pilgrims’ Tim Scott who top scored on the night with the maximum nine points.

Graham Albertella secured seven points for the victors before teaming up with Derek Wheeler for a convincing doubles win.

Shipton Gorge C fought out a close 22-20 win over Wyke D with all but one of the singles matches going to four or five sets.

Shipton’s Dave Poole secured the full nine points with Dan Corren contributing seven and Tom Baldry six.

Wyke’s Roger Walden and Tony Dobbs had a 3-0 win over Corren and Baldry in the doubles but they were already too far adrift to affect the final result.

Springfield D, in Division Three, has recently acquired the Woods, and so will have a few more options this season.

Richard, however, had a baptism of fire against Pilgrim B’s in-form Ken Winship, but managed to come through in five hard-fought sets. He went on to score the full nine points along with team-mate David Moth.

Mike (Wood) went tantalisingly close to pulling off his first win of the season but was undone by some experienced play from the Pilgrims. The 22-14 win was a fun evening and a fine opener for the season ahead.

Budmouth E fielded two new girls in their very first matches in the league but the experienced STEPS M team were too strong for them and ran out 24-9 winners.

Rosa McKechnie, clearly benefiting from a season already under her belt, took eight legs on the night losing a very close match to Jonah Corren in the opening match.

Ella Stanton and Jaimee Browne both showed real potential and gained valuable experience but Corren, well supported by Martin Singer and Mick Hogben gained a well-deserved victory.

Preston D is an all ladies’ team and the first that Preston has entered in the league.

Their first match ended in an 25-11 loss to Wyke C but they played really well with Lynda Clegg picking up victories over both David Wyatt and Paul Robson-Rowell.

The two new teams in the league based at the Wey Valley Tennis Centre needed a last-leg doubles decider at 17-all to separate the teams.

At just 10-years-old, Jess Moggeridge made her league debut and scored six points before teaming up with Richard Lane for the crucial doubles match.

Thomas Wheeler top scored with the full nine points as both teams started with a healthy points tally.

n Full results, tables and averages can be found at ttleague.co.uk